Page 49 of The Holiday Ex-Files
“There isn’t anywhere else I would rather be right now.”
Oh my gosh. He is the sweetest. Miss Sparkly was about to explode.
I would give it to her that Noah was sweet. Much sweeter than his best friend, who was throwing daggers at him with his eyes.
Not to be outdone it seemed, Ben kissed his mom’s head. “I rushed to get here as soon as I got Dad’s call.”
Kellie smiled, though she cleared her throat. “How was your retreat?” she forced herself to ask.
Ben waved his hand around. “It’s not important.”
“And where is Claudia?” Kellie said her name like she was scratching her fingernails against a chalkboard.
“She’s outside.” Ben rubbed the back of his neck. “She had to update her feed.”
“You mean she’s livestreaming outside the hospital?” Mara rolled her eyes. “Wow.”
Noah caught my eye, the corners of his mouth ticking up. He was obviously amused by Claudia Cann’s lack of decorum, and Mara calling her out.
“It’s her business,” Ben did a poor job of trying to excuse her behavior.
“Well, it’s Cami’s job too, but we don’t see her in here trying to market off our mother’s illness.”
Ben’s head whipped my way. “No, she just used me to catapult herself to fame.”
Oh no he didn’t! Miss Sparkly roared.
I was so stunned; my first reaction was to run away. It’s what I was good at lately. But then Noah grabbed Ben’s shirt and pulled him across Kellie’s bed. “Don’t you ever talk to her like that again.”
This had Jay jumping up. “What the hell is going on here?”
So many things. My head swirled as I looked around at everyone in the room. From Mara’s wide eyes to Kellie’s tear-filled ones. It was then that something in me snapped. It was about time that I did more than just stick up for the lonely and abused online. I should have stuck up for myself a long time ago. Sure, I had left Ben, but I hadn’t left him behind, and it was about time I started to.
I stood tall, having an answer to Jay’s question. “I’ll tell you what’s going on.” I blasted my ex-father-in-law with a withering stare. “Your wife is practically killing herself because she thinks it will make you happy. And your son, always wanting to follow in your footsteps, tried to do the same thing to me. You know what? It worked. I let go of the best parts of me. But no more.” I faced Ben. “Don’t think for a minute that you have anything to do with my success. I don’t need you.” I paused. “I never did.”
Drop the mic, sister, and walk out of here. I’m so proud of you.
For once in a long time, I was proud of me too. Now excuse me while I go to Hobby Lobby.
Chapter Sixteen
Dear Ex-Filers, to quote Kathie Lee Gifford, “They don’t call me spontaneous and irreverent for nothing.” Oh man, did I just do the most irreverent and spontaneous thing I’ve done in a long while. And oh, did it feel so good. Try it out.
Lots of love,
Cami
The doors to the elevator opened and I rushed out, still feeling the adrenaline of what I had just done. My only hope was that Mara and Kellie didn’t hate me for it. I had run out of the room before anyone could say anything to me.
My phone buzzed. I looked down and smiled.
Mara: You’re a freaking rock star. I love you.
That answered that.
Mara: P.S. You’re my ride. Don’t leave me here.
Me: I would never leave you stranded, unless Ian Somerhalder wanted to whisk me away and make out with me for the night. No strings attached, of course.
I looked around the hospital lobby.
Me: You’re in luck, Ian isn’t here. I’ll wait for you in my car. Take your time. I hope I didn’t cause too many problems. Love you.
I pocketed my phone and sailed through the lobby, needing some fresh air. What I had forgotten in all my haste was that perhaps leaving the hospital wasn’t the wisest thing. I was smacked in the face with Claudia Cann. She had set herself up near a small patch of trees that were turning shades of red, orange, and gold. The shameless woman even had portable ring lights. I grabbed my phone and snapped a picture for Mara. This was worth her getting on a few more email lists.
I stood just outside the entrance in the cool evening air, staring at the woman who I thought had stolen my life, in her wide-brimmed hat and floral peasant dress. She had to be freezing in that getup. She was posing perfectly to make sure she looked as thin as possible. Her lips pouted just right as she rambled on and on about her time in the desert and how hard it was to be without electricity for two whole days. “I couldn’t even bring my makeup cooler,” she whined.
